1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:16,960 Speaker 1: The volume. All right, welcome to Hoops Tonight here at 2 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:19,960 Speaker 1: the volume heavy Friday. Everybody, it is mail bag Day. 3 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:22,560 Speaker 1: I'm very thankful for you guys for dropping questions in 4 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:25,319 Speaker 1: the YouTube comments. We got some great questions today. Remember, 5 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 1: if you want to get your questions and the mail bags, 6 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 1: all you gotta do is go to our full episodes, 7 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:31,960 Speaker 1: go into the comments, write mail bag with colon. Write 8 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:34,199 Speaker 1: your question. That's how helps me find them in the 9 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:36,280 Speaker 1: list of comments, and we will get to them on 10 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 1: Fridays throughout the remainder of the year. You guys do 11 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:40,640 Speaker 1: the job before we get started. Subscribe to the Hoops 12 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:42,000 Speaker 1: and I YouTube channels. You don't miss any more of 13 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 1: our videos. Follow me on Twitter and underscore JSNLT so 14 00:00:44,479 --> 00:00:46,960 Speaker 1: you guys don't miss show announcements. Don't forget about our 15 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:48,919 Speaker 1: podcast few wherever you get your podcast on our Hoops Tonight. 16 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:50,519 Speaker 1: It's also super helpul if you leave a rating and 17 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:52,519 Speaker 1: a review on that front. Jackson's doing great work on 18 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:55,000 Speaker 1: our social media feeds on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. 19 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:56,800 Speaker 1: Make sure you guys follow us there for more content 20 00:00:56,840 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 1: throughout the season and the last not least, Like I 21 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:01,200 Speaker 1: mentioned off the top. Keep dropping those mailback questions in 22 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:04,800 Speaker 1: the YouTube comments. All right, let's talk some basketball Off 23 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:09,479 Speaker 1: the top a couple of questions regarding matchups for the Lakers. 24 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 1: First question, as currently constructed, how do you think this 25 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:17,880 Speaker 1: roster of the Lakers would fare against the Minnesota Timberwolves 26 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:22,640 Speaker 1: in a seven game series? So At, I foolishly came 27 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 1: up here before the first round matchup last year and 28 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 1: said that the Wolves were the best possible matchup for 29 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 1: the Lakers, and I could not have been more wrong. 30 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:35,919 Speaker 1: They were the worst possible matchup for the Lakers because 31 00:01:35,959 --> 00:01:38,680 Speaker 1: of the massive gap in their athleticism and because of 32 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 1: their ability to switch everything and make life harder on 33 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 1: the Lakers ball handlers. They specifically played Austin Reeves into 34 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:48,360 Speaker 1: the worst playoff series of his young career. They wore 35 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 1: Luka Doncic down over the course of games, and he 36 00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:53,960 Speaker 1: was brutal in fourth quarters. It just it was just 37 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:56,920 Speaker 1: too much for them to handle. That said, as is 38 00:01:56,960 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 1: always the case, these series are closer than they look. Right, 39 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:02,760 Speaker 1: just because the Wolves were a bad matchup for the 40 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 1: Lakers doesn't mean the Lakers had no shot. They were 41 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 1: there in Game three, they were there in Game four, 42 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 1: you win one of those games, it could potentially look 43 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 1: like a different series. I still think even after the 44 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:18,080 Speaker 1: addition of Marcus Smart and Deandrayton, the Wolves are still 45 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:20,799 Speaker 1: a bad matchup for the Lakers for the exact same reasons, 46 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 1: but the Lakers are deeper now. The Lakers lost that 47 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 1: series if you guys remember in fourth quarters running out 48 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 1: of gas at the end of games, so improved depth 49 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:34,240 Speaker 1: obviously gives them a better shot. I also think an 50 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 1: improved Luca gives them a better shot. So in short, 51 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:39,239 Speaker 1: I think the Lakers have a better chance to beat 52 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 1: Minnesota this year than last year, but I would still 53 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 1: much rather avoid them in the bracket all together because 54 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:49,360 Speaker 1: I still think it's a very bad matchup for them. 55 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:53,680 Speaker 1: Next question, mail bag Nuggets in five. The Lakers don't 56 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 1: have the size. This team isn't beating the Nuggets. I 57 00:02:57,080 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 1: actually think the Lakers matchup pretty well with Denver for 58 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:03,679 Speaker 1: one reason. The Nuggets are absolutely hopeless to guard Luka 59 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:06,320 Speaker 1: doncicin pick and roll, as we saw when they faced 60 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 1: off last year and periodically throughout Luka Doncic's matchups with 61 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:12,960 Speaker 1: Jokic over the years. He's his ability to pull Jokich 62 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 1: up to the level, but then surgically make every read. 63 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:20,760 Speaker 1: It just breaks Denver's defense. Now, the Nuggets are much 64 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:23,799 Speaker 1: better this year than they were last year, So at 65 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 1: this point I would still pick the Nuggets to beat 66 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:29,320 Speaker 1: the Lakers in a series. But I think the Lakers 67 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:33,079 Speaker 1: have a puncher's chance to upset Denver because of Lucas's 68 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:39,240 Speaker 1: specific ability to pick their defensive defensive part. Another Lakers question, 69 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:42,720 Speaker 1: UK listener here love the pod. What's the trade you 70 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 1: think another team would do centered around Ruy or Austin? 71 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 1: I guess right now rather than at the trade deadline, 72 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 1: that could significantly improve the Lakers and their athleticism without 73 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:56,760 Speaker 1: surrendering Polinka's beloved post Lebron picks. I do think and 74 00:03:56,840 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 1: Andrew Wiggins trade would immediately make the Lakers a top 75 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:05,360 Speaker 1: tier contender. He would immediately address their athleticism and defense needs. 76 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:08,240 Speaker 1: He specifically, in my opinion, as one of like the 77 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:10,680 Speaker 1: top tier, if not second or second tier to top 78 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 1: tier somewhere in that rain one of the top ten, 79 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 1: like Apex defenders that you can put on an opposing 80 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:18,160 Speaker 1: star in a playoff series, and he can do it 81 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 1: against multiple different types of stars. I also think he 82 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 1: just makes a substantial upgrade in athleticism, which is what 83 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 1: they would need. I also think he would play really 84 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 1: well offensively off of Luca, and I think the Lakers 85 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 1: could pull off that trade, including Dalton and maybe some 86 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 1: second round compensation and not having to include their first 87 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 1: round pick. But the Lakers seem uninterested in making that 88 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 1: type of deal because of Andrew's age and because of 89 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:45,880 Speaker 1: their timeline without Wiggins if we take him out of 90 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 1: the equation. I don't see a move this summer like 91 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:53,200 Speaker 1: that's readily available right now that the Lakers could make 92 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:55,920 Speaker 1: that would immediately vault them up in terms of their 93 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 1: athleticism and their ability to contend for a title this season. 94 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 1: I don't see it right now. The question for me 95 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 1: is more whether or not in the regular season call 96 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:10,320 Speaker 1: it at the deadline. If this opportunity to present it itself, 97 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:13,880 Speaker 1: would the Lakers jump on it? And I don't think 98 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:16,599 Speaker 1: they will. I think they'll hold on, and that is 99 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 1: the part that concerns me. I'll give you an example. 100 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:21,160 Speaker 1: Aaron Nesmith, the player I've talked about quite a bit. 101 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:24,920 Speaker 1: I think Aaron is quite literally exactly what the Lakers need. 102 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:28,680 Speaker 1: He's a versatile point of attack defender that has the 103 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:32,719 Speaker 1: strength to guard multiple positions. He's an excellent three point 104 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:37,120 Speaker 1: shooter and also an excellent closeout attacker. Just in the 105 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:41,080 Speaker 1: playoffs last year, he converted spot up opportunities at one 106 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 1: point two to one points per possession. That's very, very good. 107 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:48,320 Speaker 1: He's also an excellent athlete who can play above the 108 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:51,839 Speaker 1: rim and in transition, he's a substantial athletic upgrade on 109 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 1: the perimeter. And he's twenty five years old, meaning he 110 00:05:55,040 --> 00:05:57,560 Speaker 1: matches with Luca's timeline. I think he's a guy like 111 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:00,159 Speaker 1: if the Pacers came out the gates this year and 112 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:02,880 Speaker 1: they really struggled, and they realized they were further away 113 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 1: than where they needed to be to get to where 114 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:06,920 Speaker 1: they want to go, if they decided to start getting 115 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:10,839 Speaker 1: off of some of their money for asset return, he's 116 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:12,560 Speaker 1: the kind of guy that I would be going after. 117 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:16,479 Speaker 1: The question is if that happens, will the Lakers be 118 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:18,560 Speaker 1: willing to put their first round pick on the table, 119 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:22,719 Speaker 1: And I don't think they will. I think they'll try 120 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 1: to save it for Giannis, and I think that would 121 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:28,800 Speaker 1: be a mistake. We haven't talked enough about this, but 122 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:31,400 Speaker 1: to me, Luca is unique in the sense that I 123 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 1: think he benefits. I think he would benefit from a 124 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:41,080 Speaker 1: secondary superstar less than other superstars would benefit from a 125 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:45,680 Speaker 1: secondary superstar. Why. Because Luca's skill set is so uniquely 126 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:50,799 Speaker 1: geared towards that advantage creation piece. There's a reason why 127 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:55,719 Speaker 1: Luca has been on like dead serious championship contenders with 128 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:59,800 Speaker 1: Jalen Brunson as his secondary shot creator or with Kyrie 129 00:06:59,880 --> 00:07:03,200 Speaker 1: or as a secondary shot creator, because Luca is so 130 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 1: good at eating up so much usage that when it 131 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:09,680 Speaker 1: comes to having a super high powered offensive star next 132 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 1: to him, there's just a little bit of a diminishing 133 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:13,760 Speaker 1: return there. I've talked about this before. I think a 134 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 1: team with Luca and Nikola Jokic on the team would 135 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:20,320 Speaker 1: probably struggle because there'd be massive diminishing returns in terms 136 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 1: of their offensive shot creation, and because they're both such 137 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:26,680 Speaker 1: poor athletes relative to the rest of the league that 138 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 1: it just would make for a really slow team that 139 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 1: would be very vulnerable to certain types of matchups. Luca 140 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 1: and Giannis there's a little bit more utility, although I'd 141 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 1: argue there's still some diminishing return there. With Luca, I 142 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 1: think it actually makes the most sense to build a 143 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:46,320 Speaker 1: team that is stacked with high level role player talent 144 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:49,680 Speaker 1: and a guy, a guy that can mimic what Luca 145 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:55,239 Speaker 1: does to a lower extent against lesser talent and bench groups, 146 00:07:55,520 --> 00:07:57,560 Speaker 1: or in the second half of possessions as like a 147 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 1: second side guy. That is why Kyrie looked so good there. 148 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:03,560 Speaker 1: That is why Jalen Brunson looks so good there. I 149 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 1: even think Austin could work. Austin's lesser athleticism is a 150 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 1: little bit more of an issue, but I think even 151 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:14,640 Speaker 1: with Austin it could work as long as all of 152 00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 1: the rest of the roster is stacked with athleticism. I 153 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 1: think really with Austin, the bigger issue is is he 154 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:25,120 Speaker 1: as reliable getting separation against elite playoff defenders as Jalen 155 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 1: Brunson was or as Kyrie Irving was. But like with Luca, 156 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:31,720 Speaker 1: I think it's more about finding just a guy who 157 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:34,920 Speaker 1: can be that secondary shot creator and then stacking him 158 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:38,480 Speaker 1: up with reliable role player talent. That's what I think 159 00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:40,760 Speaker 1: you need to do to build around Luka Doncic, and 160 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:42,440 Speaker 1: I just don't think the Lakers see it that way. 161 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:44,559 Speaker 1: I think the Lakers look at it as like how 162 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:46,959 Speaker 1: do we be fun and competitive for a few years 163 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 1: while we stack up assets to go after Giannis And 164 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 1: I just don't necessarily think that's the best pathway again, 165 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:54,839 Speaker 1: And you know, Lakers fans have said this to me before. 166 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:57,000 Speaker 1: They go, well, Jason, that's how they've done it in 167 00:08:57,040 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 1: the past, And you're not entirely wrong, right Like, you 168 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:04,080 Speaker 1: go get a Anthony Davis alongside Lebron James, for example, 169 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:06,680 Speaker 1: But I would argue, like, look at pau Gasol with 170 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:09,719 Speaker 1: respect to Kobe. Pagasol was a star, but he was 171 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:11,600 Speaker 1: a lower level star. He was not a guy that 172 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:13,480 Speaker 1: we were considering to be one of the top three 173 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 1: or four players in the NBA, right Like. He was 174 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:19,280 Speaker 1: just a guy that could provide the specific type of 175 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:22,080 Speaker 1: support that Kobe needed, and then a bunch of really 176 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 1: good role player talent around them. That, to me, is 177 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:28,120 Speaker 1: the construct. It's not about going after the Yannis. It's 178 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:30,680 Speaker 1: about finding the guy that can be the next Jalen 179 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:35,080 Speaker 1: Brunson slash Kyrie Irving as that supporting offensive piece and 180 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:38,959 Speaker 1: then anchoring him with rock solid two way athletes at 181 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:44,200 Speaker 1: your other position groups. Nothing says summer like long days, 182 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:47,240 Speaker 1: clutch plays and firing off a few bets on the game, 183 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 1: all with Draftking Sportsbook. As the season heats up, so 184 00:09:50,040 --> 00:09:52,640 Speaker 1: do the bats, and Draftking Sportsbook has you covered with 185 00:09:52,679 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 1: live betting home run props, odds, boosts, and more. Whether 186 00:09:56,480 --> 00:09:59,480 Speaker 1: you're chasing dingers or jumping in mid game, there's always 187 00:09:59,559 --> 00:10:02,440 Speaker 1: action to be had. 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Age 206 00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:05,520 Speaker 1: and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void in Ontario New customers only. 207 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:09,120 Speaker 1: Bonus bets expire one hundred and sixty eight hours after issuance. 208 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:14,320 Speaker 1: For additional terms and responsible gaming resources, see dkang dot 209 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 1: co slash audio. Hi Jason, A huge fan and I 210 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:23,000 Speaker 1: love the work. I have two questions, so hopefully you'll 211 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:25,960 Speaker 1: answer at least one in your time As an NBA fan, 212 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:28,880 Speaker 1: is there anyone you kind of root for or still 213 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:32,040 Speaker 1: believe in that hasn't really panned out or that you're 214 00:11:32,080 --> 00:11:33,920 Speaker 1: just a fan of that's a little lesser known to 215 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:35,960 Speaker 1: the casual fan. A few of mine are Cam Reddish 216 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:39,360 Speaker 1: Collinsects and Lonzo Ball. My second question is who's your 217 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:43,720 Speaker 1: favorite what if? As far as injured players, of course, 218 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:46,160 Speaker 1: there's obvious ones like Derek Rose, John Wall, the person 219 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:48,319 Speaker 1: at the top of my wish list that they never 220 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:52,120 Speaker 1: got injured as Victor Oladipo. So I actually have the 221 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:54,920 Speaker 1: same answer for both of your questions for who is 222 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:57,240 Speaker 1: a player that I've rooted for that just hasn't panned 223 00:11:57,280 --> 00:11:59,800 Speaker 1: out and is who one of my biggest like injury 224 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:03,080 Speaker 1: was wasfs. But before we get there, I did like 225 00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:06,560 Speaker 1: you bringing up Victor Oladipo. Victor Oladipo is a big 226 00:12:06,559 --> 00:12:10,680 Speaker 1: one for sure, and I remember that first round playoff 227 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:14,040 Speaker 1: series against the Calves in twenty eighteen was kind of 228 00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:16,760 Speaker 1: the peak of Victor Oladipo in terms of like just 229 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:20,520 Speaker 1: that sheer combination of downhill force with pull up shooting 230 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:22,880 Speaker 1: and his jump shot kind of abandoned him a little 231 00:12:22,920 --> 00:12:24,480 Speaker 1: bit in that series and that ended up being the 232 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 1: biggest issue for him in terms of them being able 233 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:32,160 Speaker 1: to beat a kind of limited Calves team. But the 234 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:34,880 Speaker 1: athleticism was so crazy. Those of you guys who remember, 235 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:37,200 Speaker 1: like he dunked on Lebron in that series, but he 236 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 1: had a missed dunk on Lebron in that series that 237 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 1: was even crazier than the mad dunk that he had, 238 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:43,680 Speaker 1: and it was because he was just getting off the 239 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:47,000 Speaker 1: bounce and just was nuclear off the floor when he 240 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:50,080 Speaker 1: would elevate off of that left right takeoff and he 241 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:53,640 Speaker 1: just could dunk on anybody had the crazy off the 242 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:56,120 Speaker 1: dribble shooting to tie it all together. Victor O Ladipo 243 00:12:56,200 --> 00:12:58,760 Speaker 1: before his knee went, was a really really exciting player. 244 00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:01,560 Speaker 1: The guy that is that's my answer for the you 245 00:13:01,559 --> 00:13:03,480 Speaker 1: know kind of the player has it really panned out? 246 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:07,280 Speaker 1: And my biggest injury what if is Brandon Ingram. Brandon 247 00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:10,600 Speaker 1: Ingram has become a guy that has just disappeared into 248 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:14,320 Speaker 1: the morass of stars that are in that like twentieth 249 00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:16,920 Speaker 1: to forty fifth best player in the league that are 250 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:20,359 Speaker 1: just kind of generally everyone just kind of is indifferent 251 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:24,240 Speaker 1: towards And to me, that mostly comes down to his injuries. 252 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:27,360 Speaker 1: Brandon has been incapable of staying on the floor, mainly 253 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:31,760 Speaker 1: because of ankle issues over the years. And when Brandon 254 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:35,080 Speaker 1: is healthy and in rhythm, like when he is playing 255 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:40,800 Speaker 1: fifty straight games and consistently like available and not dealing 256 00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:43,679 Speaker 1: with nagging stuff, and he's got his athletic pop and 257 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:46,360 Speaker 1: he's got his rhythm and flow, I think he's a 258 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:49,240 Speaker 1: better passer than many of the forwards that he's played 259 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:53,080 Speaker 1: that he's that have competed with him at like star 260 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:55,960 Speaker 1: forwards around the guys like Paul George, you know, guys 261 00:13:56,040 --> 00:14:00,360 Speaker 1: like guys like Kevin Durant, Jason Tatum. Like, actually think 262 00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:03,480 Speaker 1: Brandon Ingram is a very gifted playmaker out of high 263 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:06,000 Speaker 1: pick and roll, and I think he's got that like 264 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:10,240 Speaker 1: kind of surgical mid range scoring piece. I think Brandon Ingram, 265 00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:14,240 Speaker 1: if things go right for him, can still be, you know, 266 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:16,920 Speaker 1: like a third team All NBA type of player in 267 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:19,280 Speaker 1: the NBA. He just hasn't been able to stay healthy 268 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:21,280 Speaker 1: long enough to put all of that together, and so 269 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:24,240 Speaker 1: you know, he may never and it may just be 270 00:14:24,320 --> 00:14:26,720 Speaker 1: the biggest what if you know from his career is 271 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:28,200 Speaker 1: what it might have been like if he was able 272 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:30,880 Speaker 1: to stay healthy. But I'm a big believer in Brandon Ingram. 273 00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:32,800 Speaker 1: When he's healthy, I think he can be a very very, 274 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:37,360 Speaker 1: very very good basketball player. Have you seen a difference 275 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:41,040 Speaker 1: in team construction inspired by Indiana and okc's final runs 276 00:14:41,240 --> 00:14:45,480 Speaker 1: this offseason? Not really. I think if anything, teams are 277 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:47,680 Speaker 1: looking to go to opposite direction by getting bigger and 278 00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:49,480 Speaker 1: stronger on the front line as kind of like a 279 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:52,320 Speaker 1: counter to what the thunder do or to match up 280 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:55,120 Speaker 1: better with Jokic. But part of the issue there is 281 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:58,520 Speaker 1: real useful perimeter athletes that can dribble, shoot, pass, and 282 00:14:58,560 --> 00:15:01,920 Speaker 1: defend are pretty rare and they're expensive when you find them. 283 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:05,040 Speaker 1: If I had to compliment three teams over the last 284 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:07,880 Speaker 1: couple of off seasons that have indexed in the right 285 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:11,160 Speaker 1: direction in terms of that perimeter type of play, I'd 286 00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:15,160 Speaker 1: say Golden State, Atlanta, and the Los Angeles Clippers. But 287 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:17,880 Speaker 1: Golden State is on the margins. They just continue to 288 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:22,200 Speaker 1: find these useful guys like Gui Santos and Pat Spencer 289 00:15:22,320 --> 00:15:25,080 Speaker 1: and Brandon Pajemski even to a certain extent, as like 290 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:28,800 Speaker 1: these guys that are are just really good at a 291 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 1: lot of stuff and athletic for their position, and it 292 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:35,000 Speaker 1: just kind of like makes them useful. And there's just 293 00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:37,360 Speaker 1: a lot of utility in the modern NBA, especially with 294 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:39,840 Speaker 1: a good coach that can set guys up with advantages 295 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:42,480 Speaker 1: if you have that skill set. And I think Golden State, 296 00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:45,600 Speaker 1: despite never being able to surround Steph with a legit 297 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:49,080 Speaker 1: secondary star until Jimmy Butler, I think they've done pretty 298 00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:51,400 Speaker 1: well on the margins and it's kept them competitive in 299 00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:54,360 Speaker 1: that regard. With Atlanta, it's their new core Jalen Johnson, 300 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:58,040 Speaker 1: Zachary Risachet, Dyson Daniels, and Nikhil Alexander Walker, all guys 301 00:15:58,040 --> 00:15:59,680 Speaker 1: that they've obtained over the course of the last couple 302 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:01,960 Speaker 1: of seas. And with the Clippers, it was more last 303 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:04,560 Speaker 1: offseason with the moves for Derek Jones Junior and Chris Dunn, 304 00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:07,480 Speaker 1: which I think we're really really smart, savvy moves on 305 00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:12,520 Speaker 1: the margins that really like more than replaced improved on 306 00:16:12,840 --> 00:16:15,560 Speaker 1: a max salary slot in Paul George because of the 307 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:20,040 Speaker 1: way that they can be useful in the modern NBA. 308 00:16:20,160 --> 00:16:22,400 Speaker 1: As a Celtics fan, I'm currently working on a video 309 00:16:22,760 --> 00:16:25,360 Speaker 1: video going over the most frustrating losses of the Tatum 310 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:29,760 Speaker 1: and Brown era. A few that will definitely be included 311 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:32,560 Speaker 1: will be the twenty twenty two Game five versus Milwaukee, 312 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:36,320 Speaker 1: twenty twenty two Game four versus Golden State, twenty twenty 313 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:38,840 Speaker 1: five Games one and two versus the Knicks, et cetera. 314 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:41,680 Speaker 1: From your own viewing experience, do you have any games 315 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:44,000 Speaker 1: in particular that still break your heart to think about 316 00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:46,480 Speaker 1: as a Lebron fan. I'd imagine either the Jamal Murray 317 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:48,240 Speaker 1: game winners in twenty twenty four or Game one of 318 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:50,560 Speaker 1: the twenty eighteen Finals that come to mind, But I'm 319 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 1: curious if there's anything else that resonated with you. So eighteen, 320 00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:57,040 Speaker 1: the twenty eighteen NBA Finals Game one obviously is a 321 00:16:57,040 --> 00:17:00,160 Speaker 1: big one. Not even you know, I didn't think the 322 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:02,400 Speaker 1: Calves would have had any chance to win that series. 323 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:04,400 Speaker 1: The talent gap was too massive, Like even if they 324 00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:07,399 Speaker 1: won game won, the Warriors would have just won the 325 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:10,760 Speaker 1: next four games. But it just was I just was 326 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:14,439 Speaker 1: discouraged in the sense that I thought Lebron deserved to 327 00:17:14,480 --> 00:17:16,160 Speaker 1: win that game. I thought he was the best player 328 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:17,679 Speaker 1: on the floor by a mile, and I thought he 329 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:20,399 Speaker 1: played well enough to get the job done, and just 330 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:23,480 Speaker 1: everything went wrong down the stretch. A lot of people 331 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:26,320 Speaker 1: don't remember this, but there was this bizarre overturned block 332 00:17:26,440 --> 00:17:28,639 Speaker 1: charge call at the end of that game where Lebron 333 00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:31,040 Speaker 1: took a charge on KD and in an era where 334 00:17:31,040 --> 00:17:35,199 Speaker 1: we didn't even have video review or challenges, they just 335 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:38,480 Speaker 1: like went to the monitor and overturned the block charge 336 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:41,440 Speaker 1: call and gave KD two points, which is like bizarre, 337 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:43,199 Speaker 1: even regardless of what you think about the call, it 338 00:17:43,280 --> 00:17:46,040 Speaker 1: just was a bizarre sequence that went against Lebron in 339 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:49,200 Speaker 1: that moment, the miss free throw from George Hill j R. 340 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:52,119 Speaker 1: Smith forgetting the score. There was just like so many 341 00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:54,800 Speaker 1: things that went against him and that ended up sending 342 00:17:54,840 --> 00:17:57,840 Speaker 1: the game to overtime, and he just played well enough 343 00:17:57,880 --> 00:17:59,920 Speaker 1: to win that game, and I think he should have deserved. 344 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:03,320 Speaker 1: He deserved that moment, even if the Cavs had no 345 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:06,320 Speaker 1: chance of winning that series with the jamal game winners. 346 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:08,760 Speaker 1: It's really the first one, not the one in Game five. 347 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:11,520 Speaker 1: If you guys remember, the Nuggets scored on nine of 348 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:15,840 Speaker 1: their last ten possessions in that game, including some wild 349 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:19,600 Speaker 1: plays like that weird transition sequence where the ball almost 350 00:18:19,640 --> 00:18:22,040 Speaker 1: got turned over out of bounds, but Aaron Gordon saved 351 00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:24,560 Speaker 1: it to Michael Porter Junior at the right wing and 352 00:18:24,600 --> 00:18:28,119 Speaker 1: he hit like a contested crazy leg kicking three on 353 00:18:28,160 --> 00:18:31,360 Speaker 1: the right wing that went in. Lebron was amazing down 354 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:33,080 Speaker 1: the stretch of that game and hit all of these 355 00:18:33,080 --> 00:18:35,520 Speaker 1: shots and got a big stealing dunk. That was the 356 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:39,000 Speaker 1: one stop they got in the last ten possessions was 357 00:18:39,080 --> 00:18:41,960 Speaker 1: Lebron with the stealing dunk. And just in general, as 358 00:18:41,960 --> 00:18:43,800 Speaker 1: I look back at that series, I thought the Lakers 359 00:18:43,840 --> 00:18:46,119 Speaker 1: were much closer to winning that series than it looked 360 00:18:46,119 --> 00:18:48,400 Speaker 1: at just any chance they would have had to have 361 00:18:48,480 --> 00:18:51,359 Speaker 1: a big late series chance to win was taken away 362 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:54,080 Speaker 1: by Jamal Murray hitting those two shots. And so obviously 363 00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:58,159 Speaker 1: those ones were tough. Game one or Game five of 364 00:18:58,200 --> 00:19:01,000 Speaker 1: the twenty fifteen Finals. A couple other ones that I 365 00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:04,639 Speaker 1: look at total roster mismatch, obviously with Kevin Love and 366 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:07,679 Speaker 1: Kyrie Irving being down, But Lebron was just still so 367 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:10,240 Speaker 1: good in that series that he was able to keep 368 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:13,960 Speaker 1: the series super competitive, and a shot or two here 369 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:16,280 Speaker 1: or there in one of those two games could have 370 00:19:16,359 --> 00:19:18,840 Speaker 1: swung it the other way and given Lebron one of 371 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:21,080 Speaker 1: the more impressive titles in NBA history. Those are a 372 00:19:21,119 --> 00:19:26,320 Speaker 1: couple games that I look back on three more. The 373 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:29,960 Speaker 1: majority of former NBA players, coaches, and execs believe Kobe 374 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:33,440 Speaker 1: is the greatest player ever. What is it the Kobe 375 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:35,639 Speaker 1: What is the Kobe goat case that most of the 376 00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:38,800 Speaker 1: media does not agree with. I believe it's because Kobe 377 00:19:38,800 --> 00:19:41,600 Speaker 1: lost three years buried on the bench, lost three prime 378 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:43,879 Speaker 1: years with Kwame Brown in a few other years with 379 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:46,760 Speaker 1: an old washed roster. Whenever given a good roster, he 380 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:48,480 Speaker 1: went five to two in the Finals. First of all, 381 00:19:48,840 --> 00:19:52,360 Speaker 1: there are obviously some fans and some coaches and some 382 00:19:52,440 --> 00:19:55,840 Speaker 1: players that think that Kobe is the goat. But I 383 00:19:55,880 --> 00:19:58,720 Speaker 1: pushed back on the idea that the majority do. I 384 00:19:58,760 --> 00:20:01,959 Speaker 1: think the majority either thing. It's MJ or Lebron. I 385 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:04,760 Speaker 1: have Kobe at three, but I think there's a gap 386 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:07,679 Speaker 1: between the Lebron and MJ Tier one two and that 387 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:11,199 Speaker 1: next tier that Kobe leads. The problem here is that 388 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:14,320 Speaker 1: Kobe's just a lesser version of MJ. Like when we 389 00:20:14,480 --> 00:20:17,040 Speaker 1: argue about Lebron versus MJ, it's about the differences in 390 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:18,960 Speaker 1: their games. It's like so much of what's in the 391 00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:21,399 Speaker 1: eye of the beholder, so to speak. Right, But like 392 00:20:21,920 --> 00:20:25,480 Speaker 1: Kobe was basically the same type of player that MJ was, 393 00:20:25,720 --> 00:20:28,760 Speaker 1: just not as good. I also think Lebron and MJ 394 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:31,400 Speaker 1: were clearly the best players on all ten of their 395 00:20:31,440 --> 00:20:34,719 Speaker 1: championship runs. Now, I think Kobe was underrated in their 396 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:37,560 Speaker 1: early two thousands. I think the idea that you could 397 00:20:37,640 --> 00:20:40,200 Speaker 1: just swap Kobe out with anybody and they'd win three 398 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:43,960 Speaker 1: is misplaced. I think if you put a lesser star 399 00:20:44,119 --> 00:20:46,640 Speaker 1: in that spot, they probably still get one or two, 400 00:20:46,840 --> 00:20:49,200 Speaker 1: But them getting all three of those had a lot 401 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:52,160 Speaker 1: to do with Kobe, and he was still remarkably valuable, 402 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:56,200 Speaker 1: but obviously Shaquille O'Neil was the driving force behind those 403 00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:59,960 Speaker 1: title teams. I just think there's a clearly discernible gap 404 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:03,479 Speaker 1: between where Kobe is in the top two guys, whereas 405 00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:06,600 Speaker 1: for Lebron and MJ it's so much up for debate 406 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:08,920 Speaker 1: and there's not as much of that like discernible gap, 407 00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:12,400 Speaker 1: if that makes sense. Hi Jason, I love your podcast 408 00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:14,720 Speaker 1: and welcome to Denver. You've stated that Lebron James is 409 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:16,359 Speaker 1: your favorite player of all time, and he has been 410 00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:18,760 Speaker 1: in the league for twenty plus years. I was wondering, 411 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:21,239 Speaker 1: since you have such high regards for Nicola Jokic, if 412 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:22,919 Speaker 1: he continues to play at the same level for the 413 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:25,040 Speaker 1: next ten years, and I think that he will, can 414 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:27,480 Speaker 1: he replace Lebron as your favorite player of all And 415 00:21:27,520 --> 00:21:29,320 Speaker 1: can Jokich not only be one of the best players 416 00:21:29,359 --> 00:21:31,439 Speaker 1: of all time, but in fact the best player of 417 00:21:31,480 --> 00:21:35,879 Speaker 1: all time. I don't think Jokic will ever replace Lebron 418 00:21:35,920 --> 00:21:38,800 Speaker 1: as like my favorite player, just simply because there's like 419 00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:43,840 Speaker 1: a youthful sentimental element to it, Like I fell in 420 00:21:43,840 --> 00:21:47,879 Speaker 1: love with basketball as a teenager, watching Lebron James. So 421 00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:55,720 Speaker 1: there's a sentimental element there that Jokic could never achieve 422 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:58,840 Speaker 1: with a fan like me. Right, I've joked about it 423 00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:01,399 Speaker 1: on the show before, but when Lebron retires, I won't 424 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:04,399 Speaker 1: have anybody really that I root for the way I've 425 00:22:04,480 --> 00:22:07,200 Speaker 1: rooted for Lebron, because I don't have a favorite team 426 00:22:07,240 --> 00:22:09,639 Speaker 1: in the NBA, and all these guys that I like 427 00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:12,240 Speaker 1: now I've grown to like them as just an adult 428 00:22:12,280 --> 00:22:14,320 Speaker 1: basketball fan, and so it's just a very different kind 429 00:22:14,359 --> 00:22:17,920 Speaker 1: of like emotional, sentimental type of feeling. As far as 430 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:21,560 Speaker 1: Jokic entering into the Goat conversation, he just has so 431 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:25,840 Speaker 1: much ground to make up in terms of team accomplishment. Now, 432 00:22:25,880 --> 00:22:30,959 Speaker 1: some of this is not fair because even amongst superstar 433 00:22:31,080 --> 00:22:35,560 Speaker 1: talent that we evaluate an NBA history, Jokic just had 434 00:22:35,600 --> 00:22:38,800 Speaker 1: it pretty rough with supporting talent. He's never played with 435 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:41,480 Speaker 1: an All Star, he's never played with an All NBA player, 436 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:44,439 Speaker 1: he's never played with an All defensive player. He's played 437 00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:48,040 Speaker 1: with a very very good group of role players. And like, 438 00:22:48,080 --> 00:22:49,840 Speaker 1: for instance, this team that he's going into this next 439 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:52,040 Speaker 1: season with is the most talented roster Yokic has played 440 00:22:52,080 --> 00:22:54,280 Speaker 1: with and it's a very good team, but he's never 441 00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:57,000 Speaker 1: you know, like played with the player the likes of 442 00:22:57,040 --> 00:23:01,760 Speaker 1: Scottie Pippen or the likes of Anthony Davis or you know, uh, 443 00:23:01,960 --> 00:23:06,560 Speaker 1: Dwayne Wade or Shaquille O'Neal. For Kobe, like, he hasn't 444 00:23:06,600 --> 00:23:09,439 Speaker 1: had that type of top end supporting talent, and so 445 00:23:09,800 --> 00:23:14,240 Speaker 1: it's complicated. You can't just weigh team success evenly between 446 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:17,400 Speaker 1: Yokic and other stars in NBA history. But even within 447 00:23:17,480 --> 00:23:19,879 Speaker 1: that context, one title is not going to get it done. 448 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:22,080 Speaker 1: I think where it could get interesting for Yokich is 449 00:23:22,119 --> 00:23:25,840 Speaker 1: if he got like three and the three that he 450 00:23:25,960 --> 00:23:30,720 Speaker 1: got all were overcoming crazy difficulty, Like if he beat 451 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:36,280 Speaker 1: Houston and Oklahoma City this year and you know Cleveland, 452 00:23:36,359 --> 00:23:39,360 Speaker 1: let's say out of the East, and it's like, holy shit, 453 00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:41,760 Speaker 1: that's one of the toughest titles ever. And then he 454 00:23:41,800 --> 00:23:44,919 Speaker 1: gets another one like that at some point, and like 455 00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:50,080 Speaker 1: he has like three with like four MVPs, and this extended, 456 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:52,480 Speaker 1: like because he's already going into his fourth season as 457 00:23:52,520 --> 00:23:54,880 Speaker 1: like the definitive best player in the league. Let's say 458 00:23:54,880 --> 00:23:57,760 Speaker 1: that stretches to like seven or eight seasons. Now, it's like, man, 459 00:23:57,800 --> 00:23:59,760 Speaker 1: the last time we saw the only times in NBA 460 00:23:59,760 --> 00:24:03,960 Speaker 1: history we saw players be definitively the best player in 461 00:24:03,960 --> 00:24:05,680 Speaker 1: the league for that long would be Lebron and MJ 462 00:24:05,880 --> 00:24:08,480 Speaker 1: so like if he could, that's where it could be 463 00:24:08,520 --> 00:24:10,600 Speaker 1: more of a conversation that I think in order to 464 00:24:10,600 --> 00:24:13,720 Speaker 1: get into the goat conversation, at minimum he would need 465 00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:18,560 Speaker 1: two additional championships. All right, last question, Hi, Jason Fann 466 00:24:18,560 --> 00:24:21,320 Speaker 1: from Mongolia. Been a fan since the Lakers Tonight days, 467 00:24:21,359 --> 00:24:22,879 Speaker 1: even though I am a Warriors fan. I have a 468 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:25,120 Speaker 1: mailbag for you. You often mentioned in all your all 469 00:24:25,119 --> 00:24:27,240 Speaker 1: time rankings about whether or not someone has been the 470 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:29,679 Speaker 1: definitive best player in the league for a period of time, 471 00:24:30,160 --> 00:24:32,720 Speaker 1: which on the surface level makes sense, but if you 472 00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:34,520 Speaker 1: look a bit deeper. I don't know if you follow 473 00:24:34,600 --> 00:24:38,639 Speaker 1: football soccer, but the example of Messi and Ronaldo is 474 00:24:38,680 --> 00:24:40,840 Speaker 1: that neither of them were the definitive best player ever 475 00:24:40,920 --> 00:24:44,359 Speaker 1: more than a season or it was always debatable. Probably 476 00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:47,440 Speaker 1: only Messi in twenty twelve was definitive, and I would 477 00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:49,360 Speaker 1: say that they are the two best players to ever live. 478 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:51,840 Speaker 1: How do you count for that? When you're talking about 479 00:24:51,840 --> 00:24:54,119 Speaker 1: players who were in the same age of Jordan or Lebron, 480 00:24:54,440 --> 00:24:56,440 Speaker 1: they would never have been the definitive best player because 481 00:24:56,440 --> 00:24:59,560 Speaker 1: of how great those two are. You know, I actually 482 00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:02,200 Speaker 1: look at the this is like a strength when I'm 483 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:04,320 Speaker 1: talking about players, like I've talked about this with Steph, 484 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:06,399 Speaker 1: like I talked about it earlier in the show. Like, 485 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:09,680 Speaker 1: to me, Steph playing in Lebron's era and being as 486 00:25:09,720 --> 00:25:11,360 Speaker 1: close to him as he is is a big part 487 00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:14,200 Speaker 1: of why I have him over guys like Larry Bird 488 00:25:14,240 --> 00:25:16,280 Speaker 1: and higher up on the list, and a lot of 489 00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:20,399 Speaker 1: people rank Steph. I think ultimately what you're describing is 490 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:24,080 Speaker 1: exactly why this is so subjective, you know. I one 491 00:25:24,080 --> 00:25:26,159 Speaker 1: of the tough things for me with Michael Jordan is 492 00:25:26,200 --> 00:25:28,400 Speaker 1: like there just wasn't that much talent in the league 493 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:31,679 Speaker 1: when Michael Jordan was playing. The league was heavily deluded 494 00:25:32,160 --> 00:25:35,439 Speaker 1: by expansion over the course of the early nineties. You know, 495 00:25:35,480 --> 00:25:38,240 Speaker 1: the guys that we put up against mj in that era, 496 00:25:38,680 --> 00:25:41,199 Speaker 1: you know, guys like Clyde Drexler, guys like Charles Barkley, 497 00:25:41,240 --> 00:25:44,200 Speaker 1: they just they just aren't the same types of players 498 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:46,440 Speaker 1: that we saw at the top of the league in 499 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:49,000 Speaker 1: other eras. And by the way, like I know, Michael 500 00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:52,560 Speaker 1: was very young, but when the Bird and Magic were 501 00:25:52,560 --> 00:25:55,560 Speaker 1: at their peak. MJ wasn't winning titles, you know what 502 00:25:55,560 --> 00:25:57,840 Speaker 1: I mean, he won titles when those dudes aged out, 503 00:25:58,280 --> 00:26:00,360 Speaker 1: and there was kind of a talent void the top 504 00:26:00,400 --> 00:26:04,520 Speaker 1: of the league. But that's still purely subjective, Right, how 505 00:26:04,520 --> 00:26:06,720 Speaker 1: do you count for that? How do you count for 506 00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:12,000 Speaker 1: the gap that existed between you know, Lebron and Steph 507 00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:14,720 Speaker 1: and whether or not that that is something that should 508 00:26:14,720 --> 00:26:17,760 Speaker 1: penalize Steph or that should benefit Steph or penalize Lebron? 509 00:26:17,880 --> 00:26:20,920 Speaker 1: Like are we penalizing Lebron because he didn't build as 510 00:26:21,080 --> 00:26:24,680 Speaker 1: much of a gap when he's playing against superior talent 511 00:26:24,840 --> 00:26:28,040 Speaker 1: than MJ played against. Like, it's just it's just complicated 512 00:26:28,080 --> 00:26:30,360 Speaker 1: and it's subjective, and that's why, Like I'm gonna give 513 00:26:30,359 --> 00:26:32,199 Speaker 1: you guys my takes and I'm gonna break down my 514 00:26:32,280 --> 00:26:34,840 Speaker 1: reasoning for why I have a player here a player there. 515 00:26:34,880 --> 00:26:38,320 Speaker 1: But ultimately, this stuff is all subjective and it's about 516 00:26:38,320 --> 00:26:41,960 Speaker 1: what you believe. Like I have met Warriors fans who 517 00:26:42,080 --> 00:26:45,160 Speaker 1: sincerely believe that Steph Curry is the greatest basketball player 518 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:50,359 Speaker 1: of all time. And I can't argue against that in 519 00:26:50,440 --> 00:26:53,800 Speaker 1: any sort of definitive way. I can argue against it 520 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:56,800 Speaker 1: in a theoretical way. But I can't, Like, you can't 521 00:26:56,840 --> 00:26:59,239 Speaker 1: argue against any of this in a definitive way. There 522 00:26:59,280 --> 00:27:02,120 Speaker 1: are nuggets, fans you believe Nikola Jokic is the best 523 00:27:02,160 --> 00:27:05,520 Speaker 1: player to ever play. This is ultimately subjective, and that's 524 00:27:05,520 --> 00:27:07,359 Speaker 1: what makes it fun. My thing is like, let's just 525 00:27:07,440 --> 00:27:09,720 Speaker 1: keep it fun. Let's keep it fun, let's debate. Let's 526 00:27:10,080 --> 00:27:12,800 Speaker 1: prevent it from getting personal or mean, because none of 527 00:27:12,840 --> 00:27:14,680 Speaker 1: us are right. All of us just have our take. 528 00:27:14,840 --> 00:27:16,560 Speaker 1: You know. That's kind of the way that I look 529 00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:18,119 Speaker 1: at it. All right, guys, It's all I have for 530 00:27:18,119 --> 00:27:20,800 Speaker 1: today is always I sincerely appreciate you guys for supporting 531 00:27:20,880 --> 00:27:22,840 Speaker 1: us and supporting the show. We will be back on 532 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:25,680 Speaker 1: Monday with more player rankings. I will see you, guys,